[Federal Register: October 9, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 195)]
[Notices]
[Page 51443-51444]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr09oc01-104]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Information Collection To Be Submitted to the Office of
Management and Budget for Approval Under the Paperwork Reduction Act
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service. Interior.
ACTION: Notice; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: We will submit the collection of information listed below to
OMB for approval under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act.
We have included a copy of the information collection requirement in
this notice. If you wish to obtain copies of the proposed information
collection requirement and explanatory material, contact the Service
Information Collection Officer at the address listed below.
DATES: You must submit comments on or before January 7, 2001.
ADDRESSES: Send your comments on the requirement to the Information
Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Room 222
ARLSQ, 1849 C Street, NW, Washington, DC 20204.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request a copy of the information
collection request, explanatory information, contact Rebecca A. Mullin
at (703) 358-2287 or electronically to mullin@fws.gov
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
regulation at 5 CFR part 1320, which implements provisions of the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Public Law 104-13), require that
interested members of the public and affected agencies have an
opportunity to comment on information collection and recording keeping
activities (see 5 CFR 1320.8(d). We plan to submit a request to OMB to
renew approval of the collection of information for the Conservation
Order for the Reduction of Mid Continent Light Goose populations. We
are requesting a 3-year term of approval for this information
collection activity.
Federal agencies may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not
required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays
a currently valid OMB control number.
The Mid-continent lesser snow goose and Ross' population has nearly
quadrupled--goose populations are referred to as Mid-continent light
geese (MCLG). Due to high population growth rates, a decline in adult
mortality, and an increase in winter survival, MCLG are now seriously
injurious to their habitat and habitat important to other migratory
birds, which poses a serious threat to the short and long-term health
and status of migratory bird populations. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (Service or ``we'') believes that MCG populations exceed long-
term sustainable levels for their arctic and sub-arctic breeding
habitats and the populations must be reduced. 50 CFR part 21 provides
authority for the management of overabundant MCG populations. Lesser
snow and Ross' geese that primarily migrate through North Dakota, South
Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, and Missouri, and winter in Arkansas,
Louisiana, Mississippi, and eastern, central, and southern Texas and
other Gulf States are referred to as the Mid-continent population of
light geese (M.P.). Lesser snow and Ross' geese that primarily migrate
through Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado and winter in New Mexico,
northwestern Texas, and Chihuahua, Mexico are referred to as Western
Central Flyway population of light geese (WCFP). Ross' geese are often
mistaken for lesser snow geese due to their similar appearance. Ross'
geese occur in both M.P. and the WCFP and mix extensively with lesser
snow geese on both the breeding and wintering grounds M.P. and WCFP
lesser snow and Ross' geese are collectively referred to as Mid-
continent light geese (MCLG) because they breed, migrate, and winter in
the Mid-continent or central portions of Northern America primarily in
the Central and Mississippi Flyways. They are referred to as ``light''
geese due to their light coloration as opposed to ``dark'' geese such
as the white-fronted or Canada Geese. In addition, we are now adding
all Atlantic Flyway states to the conservation order to control greater
snow geese (GSG). Similar to MCLG populations, GSG populations have
increased exponentially, causing many of the same negative impacts
previously outlined.
This collection of information that is required of participating
State agencies under the conservation order to control MCLG and GSG
populations will be used by the Service to administer this program and,
particularly, in monitoring the effectiveness of control strategies.
The information requested will be required to participate, and to
protect migratory birds. The criteria is a statement that indicates
that the State will inform and brief all participants of the
requirements of these regulations and conservation order conditions
that apply to the implementation of MCLG and GSG control measures. Any
participant must keep records of activities carried out under the
authority of this conservation order, including the number of MCLG and
GSG harvested, the method by which they were harvested, and the date on
which they were harvested. The State must submit an annual report
summarizing activities conducted, including the date, numbers of birds
taken, and methods of take on or before August 1 of each year.
Frequency of Collection: Annually
Description of Respondents: States
Total Annual Burden Hours: (see below)
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Avg. Time
Number of Required Per
Type of Report Reports Report Burden Hours
Annually (minutes)
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General take or Removal...................................... 24 360 720
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We invite comments concerning this submission on (1) whether the
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of
our migratory bird management functions, including whether the
information will have practical utility; (2) The accuracy of our
estimate of the burden of the collection of information; (3) Ways to
[[Page 51444]]
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be
collected; and (4) Ways to minimize the burden of the collection of
information on respondents. The information collections in this program
are part of a system of record covered by the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552
(a))
Dated: October 3, 2001.
Rebecca A. Mullin,
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Information Collection Officer.
[FR Doc. 01-25234Filed 10-5-01; 8:45 am]
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